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Parnell Square
Cearnóg Parnell  (Irish)
Parnell Square.jpg
Parnell Square looking towards Abbey Presbyterian Church from the Garden of Remembrance
Parnell Square is located in Central Dublin
Parnell Square
Location in Central Dublin
Former name(s) Rutland Square
Namesake Charles Stewart Parnell
Area 4.4 hectares (11 acres)
Location Dublin, Ireland
Postal code D01
Coordinates 53°21′11″N 6°15′48″W / 53.353165°N 6.263286°W / 53.353165; -6.263286
Other
Known for Hugh Lane Gallery

Parnell Square (Irish: [Cearnóg Parnell] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a Georgian square sited at the northern end of O'Connell Street in the city of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the city's D01 postal district.

Formerly named Rutland Square, it was renamed after Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891), as was Parnell Street, which forms the southern side of the square. Surrounded on three sides by terraces of original intact Georgian houses, much of the southern part of the square and its centre is taken up by extensions of the Rotunda Hospital while the Garden of Remembrance is located along the northern side of this area. The main entrance to the Garden of Remembrance is on the eastern side of the square, with a smaller entrance on the northern side of the square.

Notable buildings on the square

The Gate Theatre and the Ambassador and Pillar Room venues are located at the south-eastern corner of the square, where it meets O'Connell Street. Entertainments were originally developed here as part of the Rotunda Hospital scheme by Bartholomew Mosse as a revenue engine to pay for the running of what was Europe's first lying-in maternity hospital. Extensive pleasure gardens, subsequently forming the body of the square, were located to the rear of the hospital in the original development.

The Hugh Lane Gallery is on the north side of the square and is entered through the grandest original house on the square, Charlemont House. It was erected in cut stone by Lord Charlemont to a design by William Chambers during the Georgian period. On this side also is the Dublin Writers Museum and the Irish Writers' Centre. The striking Gothic Revival Findlater's Church (Abbey Presbyterian Church) just up from the gallery on the same side was erected in the 1860s by Alexander Findlater, at his own expense, and which he presented to the Presbyterian congregation. One of Dublin's most acclaimed restaurants, Chapter One, is located on the northern side of Parnell Square between the Hugh Lane Gallery and the Writers Museum. On the south side of the square is Conway's bar (now closed), outside of which Pearse surrendered to the British Army after the 1916 Easter Rising. The political party Sinn Féin has its Dublin head office and shop on the western side of the square. The western side also is known for offices of a number of trades unions and other organisations. Also on the western side is the St. Martin's Apostolate office, which includes a small basement chapel. The St. Martin's Apostolate office is well known in Dublin for its moving crib that is open to the public each Christmas.

Future development

Parnell Square North
The northern side of Parnell Square, with the Garden of Remembrance at left, Hugh Lane Gallery recessed at right, and former Coláiste Mhuire buildings at far end

In June 2015, plans were revealed for the development of the northern side of Parnell Square into a cultural district. The street will be turned into a pedestrian space, the city's main library will move to the former Coláiste Mhuire buildings, a new auditorium will be built, and the gardens attached to the Rotunda Hospital will be opened up.

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